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BOUNDLESS
BELIZE
Ora Cacao
PROFILE
Nestled in Central America between Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea, Belize is defined by its lush rainforests, fertile lowlands, and ancient Mayan sites hidden under dense canopies. On these ancestral lands grows the cacao for Boundless Belize — Ora’s first step in bringing Origin Cacao to the world.
Thanks to the work of the Maya Mountain cooperative, this cacao connects smallholder farmers, traditional cultivation methods, and local biodiversity, making it possible to share an authentic taste of Belize with care and integrity.
Boundless Belize
CACAO
PROFILES
Ora Cacao
Enjoy 10% off your first ORA CACAO order
TERROIR
Origin Country
Belize
Region
Toledo & South Stann Creek
Post-Harvest Facilitator
Maya Mountain Cacao
Harvest Year
2024
Amelonado (41%), Upper Amazon Forastero (36%), Nacional (14%), Belizean Criollo (9%)
Beans Genetics
Amelonado (41%), Upper Amazon Forastero (36%), Nacional (14%), Belizean Criollo (9%)
CONTEXT & MAKING PROCESS
The 420 small farms (ranging from 1 to 5 acres) that grow this cacao are located in the Toledo and South Stann Creek districts of southern Belize. Many of these farms border tropical rainforests, within a landscape marked by limestone mountains and sacred caves revered by the Maya people.
Around three-quarters of the farmers cultivating these beans are indigenous Q’eqchi’ and Mopan Maya families who have grown cacao for generations. They practice diversified farming, combining cacao with other crops such as hardwoods and fruit trees like banana, coconut, and mango.
After harvest, the beans destined for Boundless Belize are collected and prepared by Maya Mountain Cacao (MMC). MMC plays two key roles in the journey of these beans.
First, they buy and collect what’s known as wet cacao — fresh beans still wrapped in their pulp — from over 400 certified organic smallholder farms. This system allows MMC to manage the crucial steps of fermentation and drying at their centralized facility. These steps require expertise to strike the right balance, avoiding off-flavors and unlocking the best the bean can offer.
Next, MMC sorts the beans by hand, packs them, and exports them to fine chocolate and cacao makers like Ora, who carry out the final steps.
For farmers, this model removes the burden of the time-consuming and technically demanding stages of post-harvest processing. It adds value to their crops while allowing them to focus on cultivation and harvest. For MMC, it ensures quality control and consistency in delivering fine cacao beans.
MMC is owned by Uncommon Cacao, a company specializing in sourcing and exporting premium cacao. Ora then completes the transformation at their California facility, where the beans are roasted, winnowed, ground, conched, and tempered to create pure Origin Cacao discs. The equipment used is the same type employed by craft chocolate makers.
MORPHOLOGY
SOLID
HUE – Dark brown
TEXTURE – /
SCENT – Blond tobacco, slight raspberry note, chocolate mousse
FORM – Discs
BEVERAGE
HUE – Clay, orange hints
TEXTURE – Homogeneous, thin but smooth
SCENT – Bitter orange, brown tobacco
FOAM – Light beige, orange hues
AROMATIC PROFILE
Fruity
TASTING NOTES
TOP NOTES – Toasted walnut, brownie
HEART NOTES – Blond tobacco
BASE NOTES – Tangy, clementine
REMARKS
This cacao has a complex, full-bodied profile with bright tangy and fruity notes. Connoisseurs will appreciate its layers of aroma and subtle depth. Its mouthfeel is both delicate and balanced, making for a satisfying tasting experience. Best enjoyed pure, prepared simply with water.
EFFECT PROFILE
Exhilarating
OBSERVED STATES
OPEN • LIVELY • UPLIFTING
REMARKS
The whole journey with Boundless Belize felt like a gentle, steady lift — we were smoothly energized, supported in whatever we felt called to do. Lighter was a word we both came back to more than once: a clear sense of lightness that settled around the head and subtly sharpened our senses.
Rather than inviting us inward, this cacao opened us outward. It made us want to move — to dance, sing, or set out on a walk through nature. Even in a quiet, cozy space, it lifted our mood just enough to feel a sense of flow and connection.
We could see ourselves sharing it with friends, using it as an easy bridge for deeper conversation, laughter, or simply to be more present together.
